Sisters can have complicated relationships – they can be the best of friends or the worst of enemies.

Kelly and Brett have a typical love/hate sister bond.  Growing up, Kelly was the smart one, the skinny one, the one with a future. However, after their mother’s death, suddenly Brett, who was always the disappointment, rises to the top. Brett starts a successful fitness brand focused on helping women feel good in their body, and lands a spot on a reality TV Show “Goal Diggers.” Competition commences when Kelly, a single mom and Brett’s CEO, tires of playing a supporting role and wants a chance in the spotlight.

“Goal Diggers” started out as a reality TV show meant to juxtapose shows like “Real Housewives.” The idea was to find smart, successful women who eat carbs and support one another. However, over time, ratings overtook the desire for a show spotlighting female empowerment and sisterhood. Brett and the other cast members are forced into catty, dramatic storylines to maintain the show’s popularity as well as prove they deserve a spot on the show.

The Favorite Sister tracks the show’s latest season which is full of drama, betrayal and ultimately Brett’s demise. It is told from the different cast members’ perspectives, adding a dynamic element to the way the story unfolds and giving the reader insight into each Goal Digger.

Those who read Jessica Knoll’s Luckiest Girl Alive will recognize a parallel to this thriller – it is full of deceit, jealousy, lies and death. However unlike Luckiest Girl Alive where I was hooked from the start, The Favorite Sister got off to a slow start, and I never felt truly connected to the characters or particularly intrigued by the story. I enjoyed it but was never on the edge of my seat.

If you loved Luckiest Girl Alive and have a passion for Real Housewives, I suggest giving this read a go.

Verdict: Read it (3/5 Stars)
Length: 384 pages
When: You are in the mood for some reality TV drama and love Real Housewives.
Quote: “It is a dangerous thing to conflate feminism with liking all women. It limits women to being one thing, likeable, when feminism is about allowing women to be all shades of all things, even if that thing is a snake oil salesman.”
Also read:  Luckiest Girl Alive (if you haven’t yet!!!) or The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn (B2C Review)

Buy The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll